SPRINKLEBELLE

I'm giving this shout out to a very talented friend of mine, Jill. Jill is one of my visiting teaching sisters and happens to be one of the most creative cake makes I've ever seen. She's such a perfectionist when it comes to her cakes! All of them have incredible detail! This cake is my favorite! So creative and I just adore those little peas in a pod. If you have an event coming up that requires a tasty treat you should give this fine lady a call. Did I mention she's one of the nicest people I know? Which means you'll for sure have a positive experience working with Jill!

SPINKLEBELLE

More Playdate Pictures

Here
thanks for sharing Kristin

{P's face makes me laugh}

PLAY DATE FUN!!!

The kids wasted no time and got right down to playing.
It also didn't take us Mama's long to do what we do best, TALK!

{Teresa and Emery} Our new friends! Emery showed us just how adventurous she is. She climbed the 2 flights of stairs and found Porter's hidden upstairs stash of toys! She wowed us all with her blooming vocabulary. They had to leave a little early to go pick up big sister from school, but it was great visiting with them.

{Justin & Megan}
Justin got this party started! He loves all his friends and is the big boy of the group, he has mad skills and he has a birthday coming up in just a few days!

Today was our first opportunity to spend time with Megan & her Mama Corrine. They're great company and we were so happy they could make it! Megan is even fairer than our Porter. She's one of the most delightful little damsels I've ever had the pleasure of gazing at!

{Kristin, Piper & Max--Corrine in the back}
Max had just woken up from a nap when he got here but it didn't take him long to jump in and start playing. I think Porter really likes Max because he'd crawl over to him and sit on him or right next to him. I hope they become best buddies, they're very close to the same age. I noticed Max is one sweet kid and we loved getting a little piece of that happiness today.

{Meet Tonya and Camden}

Everyone was SO excited to meet this new wee one! He didn't let us down, he's so stinkin' cute! Camden is doing awesome and I just watched him and thought, "Oh, you've got this kiddo!" Watching the 2 of them just makes me so excited for all they have to look forward to. We can't wait to get to know these 2 better!

{What did I tell you? Not just a little cute, STINKIN' CUTE!!!}

{Kaelyn}
I think I speak for everyone when I say, "We were elated to have Kaelyn among us!" This little princess is just so amazing. I can't even think about her without feeling all warm and happy inside. This was her first play date (I think) and she was a total heart-breaker in her summertime outfit. We're excited to cheer for Kaelyn's Mom (Jeana) at the Ogden Marathon next month.

{She's so beautiful and I absolutely love the ponytail!}

{Michelle & Emily}

These ladies came to visit from the other side of the mountain. We didn't get a lot of time to get to know them because they came toward to end of our time, but I hope they had a good experience. I know I sure did enjoy visiting with them. :)

{Porter and Max}
This picture kills me, they both had been playing for 3 hours and I think it shows a little on their faces. They were being total boys around each other, so fun to watch their personalities.

I really wish I would have thought to get a picture of all these kiddos' siblings. They were a ton of fun to have around as well. They were cracking me up! I went upstairs and found 2 little girls playing in Porter's room (which makes me hopeful he'll like it a little more as he gets older) They told me not to feed the animals because they might bite! They also had a spontaneous easter egg hunt out back, too much fun! Seriously, my house was filled with wonderful kids and moms this afternoon!

Wow, a busy morning followed by lots of fun and beautiful children makes for a fantastic day and a nice lazy evening. :)

Thanks to everyone for coming! It really made my day! We're looking forward to the next time we can all get together and hopefully next time we can schedule it so Dads can make it too!

It's Always the Little Things

That make me happy inside. :)

I get joyful flutters from a well stocked changing table:


Oh, and this little thing fills my days with happiness! He loves wearing nothing but a diaper and his new summertime baby legs. I'm pretty sure he'd love wearing absolutely nothing if I'd let him get away with it.

{I love his attitude- happy sassy. His bed head makes me happy as well!}

P's just like his Momma, little things make him happy too. Like the box that the diapers came in, makes him pretty happy!
From our house to yours-- we hope you're having a happy day too!

Full Disclosure

For all Mommas planning on coming to the Play Date:
Porter has a Cold.

However, I took him to the doctor and specifically asked if he was contagious his doctor said he isn't because Porter is not coughing and hasn't had a fever in the last 24 hours (it's been 5 days, if you're wondering).

I just don't want you to show up and go, "That kids got a snotty nose" followed by a wave of panic. I know what hard work it is to keep these little ones healthy, so I wanted to put this out there so you can make the decision yourself.

25 Years Ago

{Summer Clothes, so cute!}

My Mother had a near death experience giving birth to me. Both a little worse for wear, but I'm so glad we made it!

Aaron got the day off after a 2 week business trip and it was great spending all day with him for my birthday. My morning started off with Aaron taking the baby at 5:45 am when he woke up, and later being woken up by P serving me breakfast in bed! We all crawled back into bed together and spent some time just relaxing and laughing. Lazy mornings with my boys are my FAVORITE!!! Aaron and I were talking and P wanted to be a part so he kept using the few signs he knows for any reason he could think of... making us laugh pretty hard.

The original plan was to go to the Tulip Festival but after a phone call we found out only 50% of the tulips have bloomed. Flowers are one thing that make me happy so that's why we thought the festival would be fun for my birthday. We decided to save our $20 for at least 80% in bloom. While P took his morning nap we talked about other fun things we could do with our day. After a little talking I got my second birthday gift: a year membership to the ZOO with one guest (Aaron or a friend)! I'm so excited about this! We used it for the first time today and Porter really enjoyed it. At first he didn't notice animals unless they were moving around, but by the end he realized that when we started pointing there was something fun look at. (You know you're a special needs Mom when you think about how normal daily activities tie into your child's developmental goals, pointing + porter looking = shared attention)

I know I put up a lot of pictures and I understand if you skip them, but I love looking at pictures, and this is the best way for me to organize them for our memory books. With that disclaimer here are the many pics from our day at the zoo:< {P really liked the Lemur!}

{A little grumpy in this pic}

{A little break in the shade. Porter loves to clap hands for you.}

{Baby Gator}

{Porter is looking at a Peacock with its feathers spread}

{This was a little weird to see my tiny son so close to an enormous gorilla}

{This made lots of people smile}

Aaron felt guilty because my actual birthday gift is in the mail and hasn't arrived yet so he bought me these beautiful flowers to enjoy until it arrives. Gerber Daisies are such a pick-me-up for me! I'm so excited to see these in my kitchen as I hustle about my daily chores.

The best gift of the day, being able to spend the WHOLE day as a family!

PLAY DATE

I've decided to have the play date Tuesday, April 27, in the afternoon. Even if just a few people can come it will be worth the good company.
Again, please, spread the word. Everyone is welcome.

Let's Get Together

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!!!

I finally feel that we're healthy enough to host a Play Date! Tuesdays work for us, because of neurotic dog (we love him in spite of it) goes to puppy day camp. I'd be happy to have it on the 20th if that works for people, but it's a little short notice. Or we can shoot for the 27th. As far as time we're free all day, so let me know what days and times work best for you so we can get as many people as possible out. My DS blogging friends please help me spread the word I have a relatively small DS network, everyone is welcome. To my friends that don't have children with Down Syndrome you're welcome to join us as well. I wouldn't want to keep you out of the fun and our kiddos have lots of love and would enjoy playing. I'll have snacks and drink. YAY!

I Think I Must Be Growing

My Mom Says "Yes" I'm Growing... so I asked her to prove it to me.

She showed me this picture:

and then we took these today to more closely examine the difference in my size. {This is the beginning of our exploration. Already just on my knees I'm as tall as I was in the first picture.}

{One good pull and I was able to get to my feet}

{I guess I REALLY am growing Bigger and Taller!}

{"Mom, I told you these pictures are for the soul purpose of documentation. Put the Camera away!"

{Mom snuck this one in, Mothers. She likes when I try to climb into the tub, it makes her laugh. We'll see who's laughing when I make it in!}

I've officially made my Mother teary so I better stop growing or at least stop throwing it in her face.

Over and Out,
Porter

Heart Be Still

Some of you may have seen a post I wrote a few nights ago about a negative experience Porter and I had as a result of him having Down Syndrome. About 30 minutes after I published, I decided to delete it. I don't want to share the bad that sometimes happens because people are imperfect. I'd much rather share the things that give me great hope in people. I was lucky enough to have such an experience tonight.

I was grocery shopping with Porter who was just a bouncing away in the cart, he actually tried to climb out at one point. I went to check out and felt like I should change lanes, so I did. Porter turned around in his seat and flashed a smile at the cashier, who happily gasped at the sight of him. She started to help me and then stopped because she couldn't resist P anymore. She started talking to Porter and in return he smiled, talked back, while energetically trying to get into this friends arms. They obviously had a connection. She turned to me and said, "He's a very special boy!" I tend to down play these comments and said, "I sure do love him!" She then looked at Porter and said, "I had a child with Trisomy 18". I instantly felt a reverence and respect for this woman, and I really felt my heart slow down. I couldn't bring myself to ask because she used the word HAD and I know the facts. If her baby had survived pregnancy and was born life expectancy is only 5-15 days. All I could bring myself to say was, "Lucky US". She responded, "Yes, lucky us!" These few minutes were sooo amazingly positive! I've been thinking about it all night. This small interaction has reminded me that ALL life is a Gift! Even if that life isn't what was expected or God saw fit to bring a perfect soul back to Him quickly while giving a Mother & Father the chance to love if only briefly.

Aaron and I are ready and hoping to welcome another child into our home soon. The only way I could get here was through some serious pray. Aaron knew the day we brought Porter home another child was ready, but I let fear slow me down. While I feel a little shame admitting this it's the truth: Porter's birth left me traumatized. NOT PORTER, but his BIRTH. Not even his birth it was what followed his birth. I wouldn't trade HIM for ANYTHING!!! I'd be overjoyed to have another child with Down Syndrome; but being told all through my pregnancy that my baby was healthy then finding out shortly after his birth all that could be wrong was traumatic. I worry about giving birth to an unhealthy baby. Yet, I also know we'd get through it and would be so blessed to care for a fragile child. I think there are lots of things that just happen that leave us traumatized big or little we've all had those experiences. This woman tonight reminded me... God is teaching us through these experiences and it may take some help to work through them, but there is something to be learned and you'll be blessed because of it. This world is full of GOOD and BAD. Right now my heart has great faith that the good can and will guide me through the bad and scary unknown, so I can grow and learn to become what God would have me be. For that I'm can't help but be grateful.

(expecting Porter)

(Our Angel Porter Ray)

Looking through these pictures reminds me that we have always celebrated Porter's life, and we were so joyful to welcome him into our family. I don't know why I've been so scared. He has touched the hearts of all those who have opened their hearts to him.

Pictures of the Day

Yesterday Morning:

This Afternoon:

Mom's Favorite:

Easter Egg Hunt

I know a lot of you probably won't find this interesting, but we know that Porter has Grandmas and Great-Grandmas out there that will enjoy this! It wasn't a "hunt" in the traditional sense, but we think Porter had a fun first Easter (albeit a day early)!

HOPPY EASTER!!!

Because of some bad scheduling we celebrated Easter today at our house. :) I'm posting these now because I know I won't have time for the next few days and this way you'll have something to look at on Monday. Holidays with a child is a lot more work, but it's also a lot more FUN!!!

{Porter first thing in the morning.}

{Dad started working on getting the boy excited for his First Easter!}

{Finally a happy boy! Now we can go downstairs.}

{Porter's Easter Gifts and Stories. All the junk food... that's for Mom and Dad.}

{I didn't see this one coming, the paper grass was very exciting! This is just after Porter's Easter egg hunt.}

{Porter trying to hurry Dad up, he really wanted his toy!}

{Once he had his toy he had a dilemma... Toy or Grass?}

{He wasn't sure about the bubbles}

Aaron and I had a lot of fun putting Easter together. This year instead of hard boiled eggs we made rice crispy treat eggs because Aaron hates hard boiled eggs. It was a very happy Easter indeed! We hope you all have a fantastic EASTER as well!!!

We'll be posting video of Porter's first Easter egg hunt here shortly.